Apparatus for the sterilization of liquids



W. MATZKA APPARATUS FOR THE; STERILIZATION 0F LIQUIDS June 30, 1931.

Filed Sept. 4 1926 Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES WINCEIN'TY MATZKA, OF LONDON, ENGLAND APPARATUS ron TEE srEnILIzArIoN or mourns Application filed September 4, 1926, Serial No. 133,692, and in Great Britain September 5, 1925.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for the sterilization of 1i uids espec1al 1y adapted for carrying out t e process of my co-pending application No. 133,693, filed of even date herewith.

According to the present invention I provide a vessel through which the liquid may be caused to flow and I provide on its internal surfaces :1. metal more electro-positive than hydrogen. Preferably these are insulated from one another and terminals or other connections may be provided to enable an electrical potential to be applied to the metals.

By a further feature of the invention I provide two tubes one within the other adapted to allow liquid to flow between them in contact with a metal more electropositive than hydrogen and a metal less electro-positive than hydrogen. Thus the inner tube may be made of or coated with a metal or metals of one of the above classes while the outer tube is made of or lined with a. metal or metals of the other of the above classes.

Preferably I employ gold as the more electro-positive metal and aluminium as the less electro-positive metal. Thegold may be used in conjunction with copper.

While the metals have been defined as less electro-positive and more electro-positive than hydrogen respectively it is to be; understood that itis necessary to use metals which differ very widely ,in electro-positivity. Thus copper may replace gold entirely but with less successful result.

Heating jackets forthe metals are preferably employed and warm water may be circulated therethrough. Preferably I mount a number of pairs of concentric tubes in a casing. The liquid to be sterilized flows through the annular. space between them and heating liquid flows round the outside and through the inner tubes.

The accompanying drawings show a preferred form of my invention in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a cylindrical apparatus with the wall removed showing the internal tubes in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of an apupstanding portions 5 to secure copper tubes 6 in the vertical position. These copper tubes 6 have annular grooves 7 in which are clipped rings 8 of gold. The copper tubes 6 also pass through the plates 3. which are secured in thecasing 1 and are provided with apertures 9. The gold rings form annular restricted points in the passage of the liquid that tend to accelerate the bactericidal action of the gold emissivity. Secured in these apertures 9 are aluminium tubes 10.

The plates 2 and3, which are, preferably formed of insulating material, are further provided with apertures 11 and tubes 12 connecting these a ertures.

The liquid to e treated enters at 13, passes between the lower plates 2 and 3 and passes up the annulus between the tubes 6 and 10.

It then passes into the space between the upper plates 2 and 3 and out at 14.

Hotwatermay be suppliedat l5 flowing below the plates 2, up through the tubes 6 and also up through the lower tubes 12 and between the tubes 10. It then flows through the upper tubes 12 and into the space above the upper plate 2 and out at 16. I v The rate of flow of the liquid to be treated may be varied as desired according to the nature of the liquid. The rate ofthe heating water may be varied according to the rate of flow of the liquid to be treated to maintain the metal tubes 6 and 10 at the desired temperature.

The tubes 6 and 10 may if desired be placed in electrical connection or may be insu lated from one another and sup lied with ex ternal current at a potential di erence of 4 to 8 volts, the tube 10 being the anode and the tube 6 the cathode.

In the apparatus shown in Figure 2' the tube 10 of aluminium is provided with an iron jacket 17 through which hot water may flow. ljhe copper tube 6 provided with the gold rings 8 is mounted within the tube 10. Liquid to be treated flows in at 18 and out at 19 under pressure if desired. Hot water flows throu h the outer jacket from 20 to 21 and through the inner copper tube from 22 to 23. The outlet 21 and inlet 22 may be connected by the tube 24.

I declare that what I claim is 1. Apparatus for sterilization of liquids comprising a vessel, a plurality of tubes of a metal less electro-posit-ive thanhydrogen within the said vessel, means to circulate the liquid to be sterilized through said tubes, metal tubes more electro-positive than hydrogen coaxial therewith and forming cellular chambers within the said vessel, and means to circulate heating fluid through said chambers.

2. Apparatus for sterilization of liquids comprising a tubular metal electrode, a second tubular electrode of a metal oppositely electro-positive to hydrogen than the metal of said inner tube and arranged outside said first tube and coaxial therewith, an outer jacket surrounding said tubes, means to circulate the liquid to be sterilized between said first and second tubes and means to circulate a heating liquid in said outer jacket.

3. Apparatus for sterilization .of liquids comprising a tubular metal electrode, a second tubular electrode of a me al oppositely electro-positive to hydrogen than the metal of said inner tube and arranged outside said first tube and coaxial therewith, and an outer jacket surrounding said tubes, means to circulate the liquid to be sterilized between said first and second tubes and means to circulate a heating liquid in said outer jacket and also through said first tube.

4. Apparatus for sterilization of liquids comprising a tubular metal electrode, a second tubular electrode of a metal oppositely electro-positive to hydrogen than the metal of said inner tube and arranged outside said first tube and coaxial therewith, and means to circulate liquid to be sterilized in the space between the said tube, and means to circulate heating liquid through the inner tube.

5. Apparatus for the sterilization of liquids comprising two tubes one within the other adapted to allow liquid to be treated to flow therebetween, one tube having aluminium and the otherhaving a noble metal on the face exposed to the said liquid to be treated, with means to allow heating liquid to flow through the inner tube.

6. Apparatus for the sterilization of liquids comprising two tubes one within the other-adapted to allow liquid to be treated to flow therebetween, the outer tube having aluminium on its inner face and the inner tube being formed of copper and having annular grooves in which reside rings of noble metal.

7. Apparatus for the sterilization of liquids comprising in combination, a surface of metal having a higher electro-potential than hydrogen and a surface of metal having a lower electro-potential than hydrogen, said surfaces arranged with a narrow passage between them, and provided with an inlet to said passage at one end and an outlet at the other end, the said surfaces at recurrent points approaching closer to each other than at intermediate points.

8. Apparatus for the sterilization of liquids comprising two surfaces with a narrow passage between them, one of aluminum and the other of a metal having a higher electropotential than hydrogen, and a succession of gold prominences on said latter surface providin g a succession of restricted points in the passage.

9. Apparatus for sterilization of liquids comprising two coaxially arranged tubes, one inside the other, forming a cellular chamber between them, means to cause the liquid to flow through said cellular chamber; one of said tubes having its surface exposed to the liquid composed of aluminum, the other of said tubes having its surface exposed to the liquid, at least partly composed of gold; both of said surfaces being inert to the liquid.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 30th day of July, 1926.

W. MATZ 

